The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1887-04-27

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By the testimony OF courts and ju-
ries the liquor traffic is the cause Of
eighty per cent of all the crime, and
ninety per cent of all the pauperism
in this country. We know you say:
ut is great industry and pays
enormous revenues to the State;r
but we know also that for every dol
lar it puts into the public treasury,
two have to be paid out in securing
the trial of the criminals it creates,
and in maintaining the paupers it
produces.
We know you say that mot all
men are drunkards, and the saloon
simply furnishes what large class
of the people demand" but we know
also that you do your utmost to
cause that demand by bringing your
saloons to new localities where work
ing men are temporarily congregat-
ed, locating them opposite new man
ufactories and stimulating trade"
by the methods of the free lunch,
the low concerto the pool room for
the enticement Of boys, and even by
pouring liquor upon the sidewalks
that its odor may tempt the passer-
by. We know that under English
rule in India, among a people in
whose veins there was no alcoholic
fever such rs the Anglo Saxon has
inherited, the liquor traffic was IL
censed as source Of revenue, where
upon saloons were planted along ev-
cry thoroughfare, and the supply
created such a demand as is rapidly
degrading a once sober people. We
believe that If the "opium joint" of
China were licensed, and its success
made to contribute TO the national
revenue, we should ere long become
nation of opium smokers.
We are perfectly aware Of your
claim that prohibition doesn't pro
hibit, but in opposition TO It we adj
duce the statement Of Peter Lieber,
former President of the Brewers
Congress, who said at the Indianap
oils session of that body:
bition is a history of success" and
the admissions of the Chicago regu
lar correspondent Of Bonfort's Wine
and Spirit Circular, of February
25th, in which he states that the
''retrogade movement" in the trade
"is due to prohibtory legislation. :"
He further says:
1--WE find Michigan, Tennessee,
West Virginia, and other States, de
termined to submit to a vote OF
the people prohibitory amendments
which, ii they become laws, will re-
suit in a great loss of accounts and
profitable trade to the distillers and
wholesale dealers, and also seriously
interfere with the consumption of
goods, and brand as outlaws all en-.
gagged in their SALE
We ask if it is likely that after
thirty years trial, the people of
Maine, by vote of THREE TO ONE,
would have grounded prohibition in
their organic law, if it did not pro
hibit?
The license laws are what you de-
sire, is proved by the following plank
in your platform Chicago Conven
ton, October, 1850: "REsoLvED,
That we are unalterabIy opposed to
prohibition, general or local. Re
SOLVED, That we endorse the license
system, and favor the enactment of
laws by the States, because that will
not result in monopoly, but will give
to reputable citizens the right to sell
wine, malt, and spirituous liquors"
Whatever you favor we must CON
denim, and steadfastly antagonlze
your principle of license wherever
we encounter lt--by the principle of
prohibition. For we find that you
do not hesitate TO evade every miti
eating feature of the license laws,
but having paid your fee, you pro-
coed to sell to drunkards, minors,
and on the Sabbath day. Hence,
license laws are more difficult of en-
forcement than prohibitory laws,
which make the presence Of a saloon
and the liquor itself swift witness
against him who invests his menev
in them.
We have here addressed the man
ufacturer and wholesale dealer as
we'll as the dispenser OF strong drinks,
because we think an undue share of
Remuneration has fallen ON the sa-
loon keeper, who is but the cats
paw to rake out of the fire the chest
nuts of the rich man back of him.
Our observation teaches US that the
''stock and fixtures" of the saloon
usually belong to the brewer, dis
tller, or wholesale dealer who ''sets
up in business" some man, ignorant
and poor, who sells what the capital
list furnishes. Morally, this rich man
is under deeper condemnation than
his less enlightened representative
who pours out the drink, collects the
price thereof, and hands over the
lions share of profit to the manu-
facturer and the Government.
Brothers, the end is near; the
doom of the liquor traffic is sealed;
the clock of God has struck the hour
of the peoples deliverance. You
know this as well as we do; you con
TESS it in your secret counsels. Will
you not come with us in the great
fight for clear brain and protected
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